Illuminating apparatus



E. A. HAWTHORNE.

ILLUMINAING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JULYI3. 1916.

1 3 1 4:, 5 99 latfintcd Scpt. 2, 1919.

Inverao 7 Ella worh fl.Hawhorrw,

ELIJSWORTH A. HAWTHORNE, O]? BRIDGEIORT, CONNECTICUT.

ILLUMINA'I'ING APPARATU'S.

Specification o! Letters latent.

Patented Sept. 2, 1919.

Application filed July 13, 1916. Serial No. 109,023.

T all whom z't may concern:

Be it known that I, ELLSWORTH A. HAW- THORNE, a. citiZen of the United States, and

a resident of Bridgeport, county.of Fairfield, and State of Connecticut, have invented. a.n Improvement in Illuminating Apparatus, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like arte.

This invention relates to 1 luminating apparatus, and is more especially, though not exclusively, conoerned with means for eliminating the blinding glare which is usually produced by the type 01: headlights commonly used for motor vehicles and other similar purposes.

My invention will be best understood by reference to the following description, when taken in onnection with the accompanying drawings showing two specific embodiments thereof, while its scope Will be more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a. front elevation of one form of illuminating apparatus embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a. sectional view online 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, and to the embodiment of my invention which is there shown, a. lamp casing 1 of any usual or desired forno herein constituting its own reflector of time beam ty e ha.ving a generally parabolic internal sur ace 2, incloses a suitable source of light 3, herein in the form of an incandescent electric bulb disposed coaxially within the lamp casing. The lamp casing may be, and is herein, provided'with a. light-transmitting element 4, in the form of a. front glass or lens of usual form.

It frequently happens that, with the usual headlights of this type, part of the objectionable gla.re is produced by the parabolic reflector. This giare usually comes from either the upper or lower portion of the reflector, according to the height at whioh the lamp is placed on the vehicle. When the lamp is placed at a. comparatively 1ow leve1, the glare usually comes from the lower part of the reflector, and when it is placed high, the giare comes from the upper part. As a. means for eliminating such g1are, regardless of the height at which the lamp is placed, I have herein provided suitable means whioh is, in the embodiment shown,

not only adjustable as a. whole about the axis bui: is also extensible end contractible so that its area. may be increased or diminished to suit the circumstances. T0 this end, I have shown a. screen comprising a. pluralit of sections or 1eaves, herein two in num er, designated 11 and 12, respectively, lying in parallel planes und one overlapping the other. These sections or leaves are herein mounted to turn about a common axis, and to that end are provided with co-axially disposed pivots 13 and 14. The pivot 13 is herein in the form of a screw, soldered or otherwise suitably secured to the section 11, while the pivot 14 is herein in the form of a. sleeve encircling the pivot 13, and formed either integral with, or soldered to,

" the section 12.

Both these pivots preferably extend through the light-transmitting element 4, the latter to that end havng a central aperture 15, which may be provided with a. bushing 16 having a flange 17 interposed between the section 12 and the inner faoe of the lighttransmitting element 4. A nut 18, having screw-threaded engagement with the pivot 14 serves to screw the section 12 in the desired position of adjustment, while a second nut 19, having screw-threaded engagement with the pivot 13, serves to secure the section 11 in the desired position of adjustment, as well as acting as a jam-nut for the nut 18. By simply loosening these nuts, the adjustmeni; of the sections may be accomplished from the outside of the lamp, and the parte seoured in the slected position of adjustment. Thug it is apparent that, by the use of two overlapping sections of the screen, the area of the latter ma.y be varied at will, while the position of the screen as a whole may be shifted so as to out ofl any portion of the 'beam.

While I have herein shown end described one specific form or embodiment of my invention for illustrative purposes, and have disclosed end discussed in detail the construction and arlangement of parts incidenta1 to the specific application thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is limited neither to the mere details or relative arrangement of parts, nor to its specific embodiment herein shown, but that extensive deviations from the illustrated form or embodiment of the invention may be made, without departing from the principles thereof.

Ha,ving thus descfbed my invention, what I clam and desire by Letters Patent to secure is:

1. A11 illuminating apparatus comprising, in combination, light-producing means, light-reflecting means associated therewith, lght-transmitting means for transmtting the reflected light, light-obstructing means -comprsing a plurality of overlappng sections provded -Wth pivots extending throughsaid light-transmtting ineans and. means to secure said. pivots to said lighttransmitting means.

2. An lluminating apparatus comprisng, in combination, light-producng means,

light-reflecting means associated. therewith,

ing, in combination, light-producng means, light-reflecting means assoca'mted. therewith, light-transmitting means for transmtting the reflected light, light-obstructing means comprsing a plurality of overlapping sections provided With coaxially disposed pivots extending through said light-transmitting means, and fastening means for said. pvots comprisng elements threaded onto said pivots respeqtvely.

4. A 1amp comprising a casing, a glazng therefor and a light therein, sail glazing presentng a pivot bearng 'substantially in line wth sad 1ight, a substantially sector shaped screen wthin the case havng a sleeve journaled in sa'1d bearing and projectng exteriorly of' the glazing, a nut coperating With said sleeve, a second screen havng a. pivot pin journaled in sad sleeve and projqcting Joeyond the same and a nut f'or said p1n.

In testimony whereof I have sgned my name to thi specification. 

